Oar holder



v- 1962 LL 3,064,285

ENTOR. [71f F. f/V64Zl BY I I estates ice 3,064,285 OAR HOLDER Lyle R. Ingall, RR. 3, Goddard Road, Lake Odessa, Mich. Filed Jan. 31, 1961, Ser. No. 86,149 6 Claims. (Cl. 9-26) This invention relates to a means for holding oars within a boat. More particularly, this invention relates to a device for use in combination with an oarlock socket mounted on the side of a boat, the device holding an ear against the side of the boat, below the oarlock socket.

Boating has become increasingly popular as a form of recreation. Smaller boats, which have always been popular, are also increasing in number year by year. Many of the smaller boats are carried on the tops of automobiles, thus eliminating the expense and inconvenience of keeping and maintaining a trailer to carry the boat around. This is especially true in the case of small aluminum boats, which can be made of a weight such that one man can easily lift the boat to the top of a car and remove it therefrom.

One problem plagues all of the boat enthusiasts who transport their boat in this manner, namely, no provision has been made for carrying the oars for the boat. Some people attempt to fit the oars inside of the car, which results in inconvenience for those riding in the car and often results in damage to the interior of the car. Sudden stops can even result in the breaking of a window. Others attempt to strap the oars to the side of the car, which again causes inconvenience in that the doors cannot then be opened. Further, this is timev consuming and unless the oars are mounted perfectly, they will cause damage to the exterior of the car during the trip.

The object of this invention is the provision of a means for holding the oars within the boat itself.

Another object of this invention is to provide a device for use in combination with the oarlock socket mounted on the side of the boat, the device cooperating with the oarlock socket to hold the oar against the arcuate side of the boat.

Another object of this invention is to provide such a device which exhibits simplicity of structure and ease of fabrication, thereby making it low in cost and available to any boat owner.

A still further object of this invention is to provide such a device which is extremely simple in operation, enabling anyone to secure the oars within his boat.

Still another object of this invention is to provide such a device which enables one to place his boat bottom side up on top of a car with the oars mounted within the boat, the mounting being positive and preventing the oars from movement within the boat and from coming out of the boat.

All of these objects are achieved without damaging either the boat or the oars. These and other objects of this invention will become obvious to those skilled in the boating art upon reading the following specification in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the oar holder comprising this invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the oar holder shown in FIG. 1 fixed in position within an oarlock socket mounted on the arcuate side of a boat, holding an oar thereagainst; and

FIG. 3 is a plan view of a boat, showing the oars mounted therein by means of the oar holder of this invention.

Briefly, this invention relates to a device for holding an oar within a boat, the device used in combination with an oarlock socket mounted on the arcuate side of the boat. The device consists of an elongated member having one end thereof bent to form a curved portion. The other end of the member is bent to form a hook portion of a diameter slightly less than that of the oarlock socket. The member is inserted upwardly through the oarlock socket, the curved portion dependIng therefrom and biasing the oar against the side of the boat, the hook portion preventing the member from disengagement from the oarlock socket.

Referring more specifically to the drawings, the reference numeral 1 designates the oar holder of this invention (FIG. 1). The oar holder 1 consists of an elongated, rigid member. Preferably, the elongated member is fabricated from a length of cold rolled steel. One end of the elongated member is bent to form a curved portion 2, the curvature of this portion corresponding generally to that of a standard oar handle. The other end of the elongated member is bent to form the hook portion 3, the length of this hook portion being slightly less than the diameter of a conventional oarlock socket. The shank portion 4 and hook portion 3 are preferably plated, and the curved portion 2 is preferably covered with a non-abrasive plastic material 5, this being achieved by dipping the member in the plastic.

The oar holder 1 is used in combination with a standard oarlock socket 10 mounted on the side 21 of a boat 20 (FIGS. 2 and 3). This socket is of conventional design and of a type adapted to receive the oar pin which is secured at generally the middle of the oar handle. As shown in FIG. 2, the oar holder 1 is inserted upwardly through such a socket 10, the curved portion 2 depending therebelow. The handle 16 of an oar 15 is positioned within this curved portion 2 of the oar holder 1. Since the sides 21 of the boat 20 are curved in accordance with conventional boating designs, the oar must be forced against the side of the boat and bowed slightly in order that the curved portion 2 of oar holder 1 may receive oar handle 16. Thus, the oar 15 being held under tension, tends to bias the oar holder 1 away from the side of the boat. This forces the hook portion 3 of the oar holder 1 over the lip of the socket 10, positively preventing disengagement of the oar holder 1 from the socket.

A pair of oars are shown mounted within a boat 20 in FIG. 3. It will be noted that the oars are so mounted quickly and simply by merely inserting the oar holders 1 upwardly through the sockets 10, pressing the oars 15 against the arcuate sides 21 of the boat 24 and positioning the handle 16 thereof within the curved portions 2.

The oars are held under tension, being very slightly bowed due to the arcuate side of the boat, the oar holder 1 thereby being positively held within the socket 10 by means of the hook portions 3 thereof. The only way in which the oars can be disengaged from the side of the boat is to apply inward pressure to them in order to disengage them from the curved portions 2 of the oar holders 1.

It will now be noted that this invention has provided a means for positively securing a pair of oars within a boat. The securement is positive and the boat may be placed bottom side up on top of a car and the oars will not be dislodged even though the car may traverse bumpy roads. Further, the securement is achieved quickly and simply, taking much less time than it would to position the oars within the car or strap them to the side of the car. This is achieved without the possibility of damage to either the boat or the oars, the plastic coating 5 assuring that the oars will not be damaged while held against the side of the boat. The structure of the oar holders is simple, thereby the item may be priced such that any boat owner can afford to use them.

While only one embodiment of this invention has this invention through the utilization of certain other embodiments without departing from the spirit and scope thereof. Such other embodiments are to be included as a part of this invention unless the following claims specifically state otherwise.

I claim: 7

1. In combination with an oarlock socket mounted on the side of a boat, apparatus for holding an oar within the boat, comprising: an elongated member; means on one end of said member for receiving the handle of an oar; a protrusion on the other end of said member of a length less than the diameter of the oarlock socket whereby said member may be inserted through the oarlock socket, said means holding the oar against the side of the boat and said protrusion preventing said member from disengagement from the oarlock socket.

2. 'In combination with an oarlock socket mounted on the side of a boat, means for holding an oar within the.

boat, comprising: an elongated member having a generally curved portion on one end thereof; a protrusion on the other end of said. member of a length less than the diameter of the oarlock socket whereby said member may be inserted upwardly through the oarlock socket, said curved portion holdingthe oar against the side of the boat and said protrusion preventing. said member from disengagement from the oarlock socket.

3. In combination with an oarlock socket mounted on the side of a boat, means for holding an oar within the boat, comprising: an elongated member having one end thereof bent to form a curved portion; a protrusion on the other end of said member of a length less than the diameter of the oarlock socket whereby said member may be inserted upwardly through the oarlock socket,

said curved portion holding the oar against the side of been shown and described, it may be possible to practice ing one end thereof bent to form a curved portion; the other end of said member bent to form a hook portion of a length less than the diameter of the oarlock socket whereby said member may be inserted upwardly through the oarlock socket, said curved portion holding the oar against the side of the boat and said hook portion preventing said member from disengagement from V the oarlock socket.

5. In combination with an oarlock socket mounted on the arcuate side of a boat, means for holding an oar within the boat, comprising: an elongated rigid member having one end thereof bent to form a curved portion; the other end of said rigid member bent to form a hook portion of a length less than the diameter of the oarlock socket whereby said-rigid member may be inserted up- Wardly through the oarlock socket, said curved portion holding the oar against the side of the boat and said hook portion preventing said rigid member from disengagement from the oarlock socket. H

6. In combination with an oarlock socket mounted on the arcuate side of a boat, means for holding an oar Within the boat, comprising: an elongated rigid mem her having one end thereof bent to form a curved portion; the other end of said rigid member bent to form a hook portion of a length less than the diameter of the oarlock socket whereby Saidrigid member may be in serted upwardly through the oarlock socket, said curved 7 portion holding the oar against the side'of the boat and said hook portion preventing said rigid member fromdisengagement from the oarlock socket; and said curved portion coated with a plastic material.

References Qited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENT S Madson Iuly 10, 1 961 

